Simon Dumont is the Man

It’s freezing cold. That’s not all either, there’s something else different from normal, I’m dizzy. I explore around myself without opening my eyes, which seem to fight me every time I try to open them. As soon as my arm moves, pain shoots through my back. An icy, deep pain. I can’t imagine that’s good news. Well, I guess I should avoid moving as much as possible. I realize I’m sitting up against something, something hard and round, with my head leaning against my right shoulder. The crisp air gives the scent of pine. The cool temperature makes the whole world seem so clean and makes me aware. Suddenly I know where I am without having to open my eyes, Winter Park ski resort.

I can remember the whole day. I had trouble reorienting myself to where I was, not quite like a concussion, more like the memory of where I am isn’t important. I can’t seem figure out what has happened in the last few minutes though. With an amount of effort, I finally open my eyes. The mountain has always brought me an escape from the rest of my life and the opportunity to focus on something I loved. The white snow covering the branches in all the trees surrounding me, while the snow around me seems untouched save for my two trails etched into the pristine powder. I’m not on a run, they’re too crowded, and I don’t need people getting in the way. Instead, I find myself in the middle of the woods. Finding my way out shouldn’t be any trouble, if I go down long enough I’ll find something.

I finally venture a glance down at myself, an ordeal I knew I would have to go through eventually. I knew I wouldn’t like what I saw, but it had to be done eventually. I still have one ski on my left foot, but the right foot has been released. Tentatively, I raise my ski pole to release my left foot from the ski binding. The silver pole is straight until about half the distance where it takes a committed left turn, cracking the paint on the opposite side. This isn’t the first time I’ve ruined a pole, but it is always a little disappointing knowing that I’ll have to go buy a new one again. I abandon my attempt and look to my right to find my ski. The snow seems so undisturbed; I can’t imagine the ski could be hidden beneath. Then it dawns on me, I’m facing uphill. My back is against a large pine tree that has seemed to clear the lower branches so I had room to sit. I’m guessing that it didn’t make room willingly.

With this new realization I take a quick turn to my left. I choke on my breath, the pain rushes over me again. This time, there seems to be a deep bruise on my right thigh echoing the pain. I pinch my eyes closed until the pain releases me and then open my eyes to scan my left side. There’s a lot more to see this time. The snow has been torn up and there is no pattern to the trail cuts through the snow. A thin tree, the trunk only being 3 inches in diameter, has collapsed into the trail. My parallel ski tracks are so elegant compared to this ruin. The fallen tree in the middle of the trail must be newer than the tracks, because they continue underneath the thin trunk.

The memory of the crash is finally available to me. I recognize it and close my eyes to review the images in my head.

I saw Russell’s blue jacket disappear into the dense green woods. It is a common sight, and I follow him into the darkness. This is a true challenge. We have skied so much that the runs offer no more challenges to us. The trees, on the other hand, require quicker reflexes and tighter turning, but offer a greater adrenaline rush. It was much more dangerous, but the feel of the fresh snow was irreplaceable. I break off from Russell’s trail I had been following and begin to find my own way through the forest. As my speed increases, so does my excitement. This will surely lead to a situation that will keep me on my toes. Sure enough, as I ask, the mountain offers. The trees spread forcing a quick right turn followed by an immediate left. I tear through the right turn and force my skis below me into the air to spin to a left turn. With my speed, this is not going to be enough.

I throw my hips to turn the skis because the edges are not enough, this might do the job. Then I notice that my right ski is on the wrong side of one of the smaller trees.

Well that's what I have so far. Its a draft... but its not done. It will be soon though. Its been really fun to write so maybe I'll write another and decide which is better.

PS. Simon Dumont is my favorite skier. Therefore, he is the Man.

I am the Man

AWWWW Yeah! Gotta admit, I've been wanting to say that I was the Man since I started this blog! Finally, since this whole blog is about me, I get to be! I guess I could have chosen somebody random to be the Man like I have in the past (note: Man is always capitalized...) but, I wanna be the Man just once.

So I'm writing this post to pitch some of the ideas that I'm throwing around for what my personal narrative should be about. Here they are:

1) The day I separated my shoulder and had a concussion. I was biking and flipped over my handlebars. I was thinking that I could do something kinda like the Bourne series. When I woke up I had no idea what was going on, where I was, or how I got there. I think it would be really fun to write, it just might be a little less original... (Thanks a lot Robert Ludlum [is not the man]).

What I Learned: I learned not to care so much about what people think. Or rather, not try so hard to impress people by doing dumb stuff.

2) I broke a vertebra one day skiing. I was with a buddy, who had fallen and hit his head against a rock so was unconscious above me. Meanwhile i hit a tree. I could talk a lot about the alternation of desperation for help and an attempt to stay calm.

What I Learned: How to handle difficult situations. When my help finally got there he panicked and was pretty useless.

Well this shows that my greatest teacher is pain. Its pretty clear. I do so many dumb things that end up hurting me but I can say I've learned a lot from it. Mostly how to recognize a bad idea... but not necessarily how to keep myself from continuing on and doing it anyways.

The Doctor is the Man

Alright, part 2 of my analysis of television. I'm actually not totally sure what exactly is expected in this blog so, I've decided to just write about what's been of interest to me and try to somehow tie it in. So I've spent way too many hours watching Dr. Who this year. I mean it too, way too many. I've finished 3 1/2 full seasons of it! I didn't even start til mid-October. Yesterday alone I watched 4 episodes. That's when it dawned on me, how does it keep my attention?! On top of that, how has it kept an audience since 1963?! That's quite the accomplishment, especially because most of the plots are recycled!

Yep, there he is. The 11th actor to portray the Doctor, along with his most recent companion, Amy Pond.

Anyways , what's amazing is how it holds my attention so well. In fact, while writing this, I really want to go watch an episode! So here's what I've discovered, the way that it works is through familiarity and difference. That doesn't make much sense yet, I know, I'll get to it a little bit later.

So lets begin with the familiarity bit. Every episode is pretty much the same: The doctor ends up somewhere, usually Great Britain, that a species of Aliens is trying to kill all the humans so that they can populate there since their home planet has been destroyed. There you go! You know know the basics to every episode of Doctor Who. So what can keep your attention? The characters! The companions change throughout the seasons, and each act differently. On top of that, Doctor Who has done something very smart in allowing the Doctor to change appearances and characters (when the actor changes) which creates a new Doctor with brand new traits and ways of solving problems. As much as I loved David Tennant playing the Doctor, having a change to Matt Smith (pictured above) is very refreshing. Although the plots are the same, the characters (especially the Doctor) are able to attract the audience.

Speaking of the characters, the Doctor is what provides the difference from most of the rest of TV. Most heroes who never resort to violence to solve problems are outgrown. Doctor Who, however, is geared for an older audience. In fact, one of my favorite descriptions of the show is: "The TV show that everyone in Britain grew up watching from behind the couch." Its nice to have a deeper show that has a protagonist that is just clever instead of violent.

Another technique used is, of course, leaving the endings hanging. This isn't unique to Doctor Who, but its used as well.

Well I do recommend this TV show to anyone who likes Sci-fi. It's a little lighter than Star Trek, but still a lot of fun.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz is the man

"There's a platypus controlling me he's underneath the table." - Doofenshmirtz

"Oh I get it! Platypus is a metaphor for whatever's keeping you down!
Like corporations are a platypus!
The government's a platypus!
Your teacher is a platypus!
My teacher is a panda...
Society's a platypus!

My parents are a platypus!

The media's a platypus, it's all just propaganda!" -Crowd members

So who isn't ashamed to say that they love Phineas and Ferb? Come on, you know that it is great! There are so many bad cartoons out, and yet at the same time, there is one that might even surpass what Doug was for me! It might be a kids show, but there is so much that kids will never get. Allusions to all sorts of older TV shows, or movies. One of my personal favorites is the allusion to Citizen Kane in the episode featuring the Lake Nose Monster. At one point, one of the characters is choking (or something to that effect) and drops a snow globe while exclaiming, "Nosebud!" Which, of course, if you have seen Citizen Kane, is reference to "Rose Bud," but in case you haven't seen it, that's all I'm going to say. It would kill the whole story if I did.

I want to rhetorically analyze Phineas and Ferb today. And to do so, I guess I'll just have to watch an episode of the show... OK! Lets see, Provo TV guide.... Next episodes are at 3 and 3:30. Fantastic. I think I can manage to make that. And I guess I should actually write my paper when I get home... That is due tomorrow after all. ALRIGHT, UNTIL AFTER PHINEAS AND FERB, I BID YOU FAREWELL!

Hey everyone. I just watched me some Phineas and Ferb, which I found fascinating. I love the show, but didn't really pay much attention as to what it is teaching kids! In one of my favorite episodes, Stacy and Jeremy's friend, Cold Train, meet. This is awesome dating advice! Candace suggests crazy solutions to handle Stacy's feelings like hiding, pretending they are trees, and things of that nature. Stacy just suggests walking up and talking to him, then this conversation happens:

"Hi, I like your hair." - Stacy
"I like your bow, want me to show you around?" - Cold Train
"Yeah."

How often do we over complicate the simple things in our life. Phineas and Ferb teach this through the juxtaposition of Candace, the one who does over complicate everything, and Stacy, who takes the simple path. Although both may lead to the same desired result, Stacy's approach is easier and more rewarding. This is ingenious because, although the audience of the show (besides myself and my roommates) may not be dating, it can set a base for how dating can be approached. It is also not the main plot of the show and therefore, is less of the focus.

So, in other words, watch more Phineas and Ferb and see what you can find.

Ed Jovanovski is the Man

Ed Jovanovski earned the honor of being included in my title this week because he scored 15 points for my fantasy hockey team, The Jolly Rogers. Recording the first hat trick for a defense-man in the Phoenix franchise is deserving of any honor I can get him. Not to mention putting me that much further ahead of my siblings.
Anyways, I have gotten a lot of good facts down, that I didn't make up! I spent a few hours earlier today just reading through my exciting sources, and my incredibly dull ones, underlining some things that should come in handy for my paper. Turns out that only one or two of my sources agree with me. Most of the others don't really touch my topic and just assume that the music and the lyrics are equally important. I personally don't think the lyrics have anywhere close to the same influence. For example, Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind. First 10 times you listen to it you have no idea that its all about drugs. Its so catchy and happy how could it be such a depressing song?!

Anyways, a cool article I'm using is about vibroacoustic experiments on mentally handicapped persons with violent or self-destructive behavior. In case you don't know what vibroacoustic means, its more that just music. By listening to music and accentuating the low vibrations through a chair, you can truly feel the music (or low vibrations). They exposed the participants for a few weeks and measured whether the music had any influence on their aggression; which of course it does. That's all for now!

Tune in next time for: "Heinz Doofenshmirtz is the man"